Man to be sentenced for publishing threatening messages about Garda rep leader
Andrew McGovern, 38, pleaded guilty in November to a charge under section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
A Midlands man is to be sentenced in July for publishing 'grossly' offensive or threatening messages about a former prominent Garda representative group leader.
Antoinette Cunningham, was general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) when the offences happened over a two-week period in 2023.
Following an investigation, Andrew McGovern, 38, of School Lane, Rathowen, Co Westmeath, was summonsed to face criminal proceedings at Mullingar District Court.
He pleaded guilty in November to a charge under section 4 of the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.
Court documents state the offence occurred in the Mullingar area, March 16–30, 2023, and that he 'did distribute or publish a threatening or grossly offensive communication about Antoinette Cunningham with intent to cause harm".
The charge carries a possible six-month sentence at the District Court level.
Andrew McGovern.
In November, the court directed the preparation of a victim impact statement to be furnished on March 6. However, on that date, McGovern failed to show up in court, resulting in a bench warrant to have him arrested.
He was found and granted bail again on March 13 with an order to appear again today.
The accused briefly sat close to retired Garda Inspector, Ms Cunningham, before moving to the opposite side of the courtroom.
When his case was called, court Garda Sergeant Orla Keenan summarised the proceedings so far and added that a victim impact statement had been handed into court in March.
The sergeant added that the injured party was present for the proceedings, but Ms Cunningham was not required to testify.
Andrew McGovern.
News in 90 Seconds - May 15th
Judge Owens said she had not yet read the impact statement and noted an application for an adjournment for the Probation Service to draft a pre-sentence report.
Judge Owens recalled that when McGovern pleaded guilty on November 14, the report was directed at that stage, but the accused did not turn up on the subsequent date when the bench warrant was issued.
His failure to attend the hearing in March also led to the Probation Service not being notified that the report was needed today.
McGovern, dressed in black trousers, a pink shirt and a maroon blazer, stood forward when the case was called but did not address the court.
Asked if she wished to hear full facts and the victim impact statement today, Judge Owens said she appreciated the attendance of the injured party. However, she asserted that it would have 'more impact' if she heard from her and the evidence on the next date, when the probation report will also be ready.
Sentencing was set for July 17; Judge Owens remanded McGovern on continuing bail. Legal aid was granted earlier.
Last year, Ms Cunningham, from Limerick, announced she was to retire after 33 years with An Garda Síochána and the AGSI.
She made Irish policing history in 2018 when she was made the first full-time female official in a garda representative organisation. She was also the first woman to serve at every executive level of the association.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
19 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Kinahans at large ‘should be worried' of ‘perilous position' amid ‘huge global effort' to nail boss Daniel & associates
THE Garda Commissioner says the remaining Kinahan cartel members at large "should be worried" and insisted: "We are fixed on bringing them all to justice." Drew Harris told how the global organised crime group are in a "perilous position" as international law enforcement are cooperating with the force to 5 Daniel Kinahan remains living openly in the Middle East 5 Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said the crime group are in a 'perilous position' Credit: Garrett White/PA Wire 5 Harris said the force's work with authorities in Dubai continues Credit: Getty Images But he also reminded lower ranking members of the gang that Harris was speaking a week and a half on from Kinahan's right-hand man Sean McGovern, 39, becoming the first ever Irishman to be extradited out of the McGovern, who had left for But gang leader READ MORE IN NEWS Commissioner Harris insisted the force's work with authorities in Dubai continues. Harris said: "They should be worried, but they should have been worried now for a number of years, because this huge investigative effort, an international effort, has gone into the investigation of the overall "A lot of things which were said couldn't be done, have been done. "So following on from the sanctions, the work that we've undertaken with the UAE, and the work that specifically we've undertaken then with the police in Dubai, has been very fruitful. Most read in The Irish Sun "They have been very active partners with us in terms of investigation, providing us information, and obviously then UAE authorities have worked to support the extradition, and we see an individual then extradited back to Ireland to face justice here, and that's the correct thing to do." US authorities issued a $15million bounty on the heads of Daniel, his father Christy, 68, and brother Christopher Jnr, 44, to provide crucial information to bring them down three years ago. Harris added: "The sanctions and the rewards still stand. There's $15 million there of reward money through the federal law enforcement authorities of the US. So that is still in play as well. "I just want to remind others in the Kinahan organised crime gang of the perilous position that they're now in, that ourselves and other law enforcement are fixed on them, and we are fixed on bringing them all to justice. "So all of them should be worried, and they should be thinking about the choices, serious life choices that are now ahead of them, in respect of what to do over the coming months. "Our work with the Dubai police obviously carries on." WARNING TO OTHER GANGS Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly told how the events of the past week and a half highlighted how gardai are relentless in their pursuit of some of these transnational OCGs. Kelly said: "I think it's really important as well that everybody knows that there's other transnational organised crime groups outside the Kinahan OCG. "It's exactly the same for those, it doesn't matter where in the world they are, if there are charges here we will seek to have them extradited back to Ireland. "So extradition agreements, all the work by the Department of Justice, Department of Foreign Affairs are really important to our organisation." Kelly also explained that the work in relation to the Kinahan cartel and the Hutch OCG should serve as a warning to others involved in organised crime. He added: "We have absolutely dismantled two of the organised crime groups here in Dublin. "At one stage we had 47 members of one group in jail. "So if you make those life choices and you want to become involved in this, what is the reality facing you is the full force of the state against you, and investigations by specialist investigators, prosecutions, many of these cases are in the Special Criminal Court." BEHIND BARS He continued: "There've been numerous lengthy sentences handed out for possession of drugs, firearms. "Now we have substantial legislation around organised crime, directing and facilitating organised crime. "So there's a huge range of powers we have, and even beyond that, we can see people who are convicted, their houses are now being subject to Criminal Assets Bureau orders. "So before people get involved, this is the type of thing they need to look at." 5 Sean McGovern was extradited back to Ireland last month Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin 5 Harris said the sanctions and the rewards still stand Credit: James Treacy
Irish Independent
23 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Drew Harris says two new water cannons to be used in ‘extreme scenarios'
Gardaí are also planning to increase the capacity at Templemore so that 1,000 recruits can be attested every year. Commissioner Drew Harris was speaking today at the launch of a report into how An Garda Síochána has transformed in the seven years under his leadership. The report states that the number of garda staff has increased by 51pc while 700 body worn cameras are now used by gardaí on a pilot basis. It says an 'information led' approach has also resulted in almost 15,000 mobility devices being issued to gardaí, The organisations vehicle fleet is at its highest ever level after spending €75m in the last five years with more than 3,600 cars, armed support vehicles and public order vans, as well as two water cannons now available. The water cannon trucks have not yet been deployed but were on standby during a recent large demonstration in Dublin city centre. Each vehicle has two mounted water cannons and are operated by trained gardaí from the public order unit, while they also have a self-extinguishing water system if they are petrol bombed. Mr Harris said that they will be deployed in 'extreme scenarios' and, referring to the Dublin Riots and Coolock Riots, noted 'very violent incidents' that had occurred in recent years. He also said that Ireland holds the EU Presidency in 2026 and that they have to be prepared for 'any public order threats that might arise' during that. 'In a very violent situation, we need to make sure that we're not suffering members being injured, as opposed to having the vehicles and the equipment, including water cannons, which can probably deal with very violent disorder. So that's what they're there for,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT 'They're there for pretty extreme scenarios, but they're there to protect the public. They're there to protect members of An Garda Síochána who are engaged in public order policing. So, it is essential that we have them ourselves.' He also said it was important that the vehicles are adaptive for the streets around Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland where they might be used. The 'Transforming An Garda Síochána 2018-2024' report was compiled to provide an organisational account of the implementation of the 'A Policing Service for Our Future' programme. It notes that Garda staff have increased by 51pc since 2018, but that the number of attested gardaí between 2019 and 2024 has reduced from 14,307 to 14,125. The Garda Commissioner has said that they plan to increase the capacity of the Garda Training College in Templemore to ensure that 1,000 gardaí can graduate every year. 'How we're going to achieve that is really then back to our actual recruitment process. We've revamped all of our processes, to try and speed them up and try and bring people through the process quicker and actually make it more related to the vocation that it is.' So far 700 gardaí have piloted new body worn cameras which frontline personnel have described as the 'most important and invaluable' adaption to their personnel protective equipment in recent years. Gardaí have received a report on the pilot phase and will begin the process of rolling out the body worn cameras across the organisation by the end of this year. Mr Harris said that anecdotally there has been evidence of them reducing threats to frontline members while also acting as an investigative tool. 'I think it makes a difference in terms of just taking the temperature out of a situation when people are told that a camera is on, and those who have any sense at all realise their actions are being recorded, but some don't,' she said. 'And then this is very useful evidence, very appropriate evidence then, to bring before the courts. It gives the unvarnished, unalloyed description and representation of their behaviour at the scene. 'So that does make a difference. And we believe that it's really significant for us in terms of just speeding up criminal justice cases, but also helping on the ground and on the street-based situations.' A significant change has been the rollout of the operating model which has moved from localised focus at district level to larger autonomous divisions. Mr Harris rejected collective criticism of the model from policing representative bodies, and said they don't speak about the successes delivered under it. He said this included each division having a Detective Superintendent to oversee serious criminal investigations and Divisional Protective Services Unit to investigate sexual offences and domestic violence, as well as increasing the number of garda staff to free up attested garda members.
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Man, 50s, arrested on suspicion of human trafficking
A man has been arrested in Co Monaghan on suspicion of human trafficking. As part of an ongoing probe into trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced criminality, gardaí undertook an operation on Monday morning. Officers attached to the human trafficking investigation and co-ordination unit arrested a man in his 50s. He is currently detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Gardaí have made an appeal to anyone who may be the victim of human trafficking for sexual exploitation to come forward and speak with them at any Garda station in person or by phone, or by calling the freephone Garda Confidential Line: 1800 666 111. Anyone who has information related to human trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation is encouraged to contact gardaí. Read More Former Cork prison could become new 300-bed facility under plan to tackle overcrowding
